Side Step

The position is taken from the game Bondarevsky- Ufimtsev. A snapshot view of the position will tell us that black’s edge points on the extra pawns in his disposal. Blacks’ actively placed rook and bishop are his weapons to dislodge the white’s king roaming in the center of the board. However, white has compensated this material imbalance with his aggressive king marching toward the 5th rank. Further, white’s rook, bishop and knight are well coordinated threatening the weak f8-square. Can you spot the killer move leaving black in a hopeless situation? (Bondarevsky- Ufimtsev, USSR, 1936) White to play and win. Solution: 1. Be8+ NxB 2. Kg5!!... Threatening Rf8 mate. White’s king is perfectly placed protecting his knight and avoiding check.